Lock-down: Bauchi residents engage in panic-buying of food items

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Bauchi residents are rushing to stock food items and other essential products barely some hours to the total lockdown of the state.

The state government announced that effective Thursday night, movement into and out of the state would be restricted for two weeks as part of measures to check the spread of coronavirus.

The state has so far recorded three cases, with the state governor, Bala Mohammed, one of those infected.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reporter who visited some popular business centres on Wednesday observed heavy traffick, with people rushing to buy food items.

A visit to the popular Wunti, Muda Lawal and the Bauchi central markets located in the heart of the city indicated that thousands of residents were engaged in panick-buying of essential commodities preparatory to the scheduled date for the lockdown.

Alhaji Musa Yaro, a customer at the Muda Lawal market, told NAN that he was at the market to procure all the needed foodstuff and other consumables for his family, sequel to the lockdown notice.

He described the Covid-19 pandemic as a serious calamity capable of exterminating the human race if urgent measures were not taken to address the menace.

Malam Aminu Shehu, another customer at the popular Wunti market, said he was at the market to make some purchases for his 24 family members to sustain them during the lockdown.

He however, commended the Bauchi state government for taking proactive measure aimed at curtailing the spread of the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic.

Mrs Janet Emmanuel, a trader who deals in foodstuff at the Bauchi central market, told NAN that she was experiencing boom in sales as the lockdown hour approached.

She said in spite of the notice, prices of foodstuffs had remained stable with the exception of price of palm and groundnut oil that rose slightly.

NAN also was at the Awala and Muda Lawal motor parks where passengers were boarding vehicles to their hometowns for fear of being trapped by the lockdown order.

Idris Mohammed, a passenger on board a Plateau-bound vehicle, told NAN that he was on his way to deliver foodstuff to his family who were resident in Jos, to avoid them being starved.